Meanings
plural aquae vitae · alternative aqua vitæ
- countableuncountablealchemyAn aqueous solution of alcohol typically prepared by distilling wine.
- archaiccountableuncountablechemistryA concentrated aqueous solution of ethanol.
- archaiccountableuncountableSynonym of ardent spirits, particularly cognac and other French brandy.
Ile ſooner truſt an Iriſhman vvith my Aquauita bottle, Sir Hu our parſon vvith my cheeſe, A theefe to vvalk my ambling gelding, thẽ my vvife VVith her ſelfe […]
c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, […] [T]he Merrie Wiues of Windsor. […] (First Quarto), London: […] T[homas] C[reede] for Arthur Ihonson, […], published 1602, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]Synonyms: water of life, eau de vie, ardent spirits, particularly cognac and other French brandy
Synonyms & antonyms
nounSynonym of ardent spirits, particularly cognac and other French brandy.
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Frencheau-de-vie
- Middle Englishaqua vite
- Medieval Latinaqua vītae
- Englishaqua vitae
From Medieval Latin aqua vītae directly and via Middle English aqua vite and French eau-de-vie, from aqua (“water”) and vītae (“of life”). Doublet of aquavit and akvavit. Compare eau de vie, whisky, whiskey, and water of life from the same source.
More words from Medieval Latin, Middle English, French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Polish akwawita
- akwawitaalchemy: an aqueous solution of alcohol typically prepared by distilling wine
Cite this entry
aqua vitae. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aqua%20vitae
“aqua vitae.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aqua%20vitae. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “aqua vitae,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aqua%20vitae.
Source: aqua vitae on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.